THE
FORREST POST
FEBRUARY 2022
FREE
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land and waters around us, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future. We respect their cultural heritage, knowledge here in Forrest where the waters flow over Gadubanud and Gulidjan
PV Solar system at the Shed
Coming soon! Forrest Regatta.
Since the installation of the PV system (3.7 kW solar panels, 5kW inverter, Ubi™ unit and 4kW battery) at the Forrest Men’s Shed (FMS) on 14th December 2021, it has produced 890 kWh. This brought the installed renewable energy capacity in Forrest to 205 kW (32.7% of dwellings); the highest in the Shire (Cororooke, 202 kW). The percentage of dwellings with solar installations Shire-wide is 17% whereas Cororooke is 36.6%, Forrest 32%, Birregurra 29% and Apollo Bay 14%.
A joint effort by The Forrest Early Learning Centre, Lions Club and The Forrest Men's Shed, the Regatta will be held at the school sometime after Easter. Boats are being made in the Shed with the children adding their unique decorations for race day. All are Welcome to attend this fun community activity. Marita kennedy
It is worth noting that the potential of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation capacity in Forrest is 4277 kW; approximately 200 times the currently installed capacity.
Remembering Kris Reinertsen
The amount of energy produced in 50 days contributed to reducing CO2 emissions by 1010 kg. The FMS installation is part of “Geelong Community Solar -G21” program. Therefore, FMS joined the Mondo “Virtual Power Plant”. By the virtue of the installed Ubi unit, the Shed is able to trade some of its battery energy to the grid. Under the terms of the agreement, FMS sells from its battery at a good rate ($1 per kWh). Electricity distributors view trading energy locally favourable as it reduces the demand on upgrading their infrastructure assets. Moreover, with more solar installations in Forrest, the community can establish an energy enterprise. The G21 program is a unique chance for homeowners and businesses to leverage the buying power of the community to enjoy clean, affordable energy. To be part of the Community Solar Program, check https://www. geelongcommunitysolar.com.au/
Nasser Kotb
The Forrest and Barwon Downs communities were saddened at the sudden loss of their friend and mentor. Kris was a stalwart of the King Parrot Pickers bluegrass group, which he named, that was formed out of the Men's Shed jammers. He was a proficient jazz musician, multi instrumentalist, teacher and mentor to the group. He played Tea Chest Bass, and freely shared his knowledge of music and country. A proud Norwegian Australian with close ties to the First Nations Community. Kris will be greatly missed. Marita kennedy
COMEDY FOR A CAUSE: Saturday 12th March 2022
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Forrest Caravan Park update "The Forrest Caravan Park was built on the community's blood, sweat and tears in 1976" (Colac Herald, 27/11/1998) The land was purchased by the Council in 1972 for $485 (15th March 1972 Otway Shire Council minutes) The Colac Otway Shire Council conducted "community consultation" with regard to the Caravan Park lease that ended in July 2020. The Council June 2021 meeting approved the issuing of Expression of Interest (EOI) documents. On 25th January 2022, the Council issued the following media statement."Council looking forward to Forrest Caravan Park opportunities Council is pleased with the opportunities presented for potential lessees (sic. leasees) of the Forrest Caravan Park, following an expression of interest process. The process was extended due to COVID restrictions but is still on track and progressing well. As per the assessment and negotiation phase of the EOI process, Council is working through details with relevant parties and will formally consider proposals to enter a lease in the near future,” said James Myatt, Acting General Manager Development and Community Services. "Council understands the Forrest Caravan Park is an important asset for the community and visitors to the area, and looks forward to sharing more information in coming weeks,” said James. Establishing the next lease for the park comes at a time when Forrest and district is poised to build on its recreational tourism assets in the township and surrounding areas, thanks to the Forrest Mountain Bike Revitalisation Project being delivered under the Victorian Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund.Council expects to make its decision about the lease at its Council Meeting to be held on 23 February 2022 and will be livestreamed via Council’s YouTube account" We hope that the lease will be finalised in the Council's February meeting. NOTE: A comprehensive document was compiled by the late Ken Widdowson about the Forrest Caravan Park. For copies contact the Forrest & District Historical Society; forresthistory@gmail.com Nasser Kotb
The Good Sort App
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t’s bin night – but which of the four bins should go out? Instead of copying your neighbour who may have it wrong, Colac Otway Shire residents can use the Good Sort App to tell them. This app downloaded onto your phone from the App store or council website, not only provides calendar notifications, bin night reminders, tip locations but also how to recycle anything, including things not usually recycled. Did you know you can’t put your dead chook in the green bin, even though it technically is organic waste, but you can put an animal, (dead, otherwise that would be cruel) no bigger than a mouse in the green bin. You need to bury the chicken in your garden.
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his site is a wealth of information and helps us do the right thing, because who wants to be responsible for an entire truck of carefully sorted recyclables being rejected because some Nong put a broken window in the glass bin. Only put bottles in the purple bin – broken glass needs to be wrapped up in newspaper and put in the red bin, like we used to in the olden days, when garbo’s were athletes. Some things never change. Visit www.colacotway.vic.gov.au Susan Langridge
FREE WIFI AT THE SHED email fdms3236@gmail.com to request a username & password AT: Forrest Men’s Shed – 6 Blundy St, Forrest
BUILDING PURPOSE
BUILDING INTEGRITY
BUILDING COMMUNITY
The Forrest Post is auspiced by the Forrest Men’s Shed. Every effort is made to remain current, accurate and non-partisan. Feedback, submissions and advertising are encouraged. Submissions may be edited. You can request an electronic version by email, find us on Facebook or online at issuu.com/theforrestpost for back issues Contact: theforrestpost@gmail.com Contributors Susan Langridge, Marita Kennedy, Noor Petersen, Renee Taylor, Nasser Kotb. Design: Nasser Kotb Print: Forrest Primary School. All contributions to be received the 22nd of the month.
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INTREPID BRONTI A hearty welcome to the Forrest General! Bronti is thrilled to be back reunited with friends and familiar faces. She realizes how much she is part of a wonderful community after ten months away testing her resilience and digging deep into her well of courage and grit. What a brave adventure! Five days driving to Darwin. ALONE! Then a six month stint working at a prestigious eco-lodge on the flood plains near Kakadu. Here Bronti expanded her hospitality skills while serving the elite as they flew in on their private planes, air boats and luxury vehicles. They served five star food and offered five star experiences. Her quick course in the posh etiquettes of being a sommelier (wine waiter) is a great addition to her CV! Other duties included fuelling the air boats which Bronti said was a scary job as the crocodiles would be lurking nearby. General housekeeping, dining, laundry were all on the go learning, all while sharing sleeping quarters in a tin-like shed! Bronti worked two weeks on one week off. The off week was spent travelling the three hour trip back to Darwin with a friend and fellow worker at the lodge, passing herds of buffalo, huge cattle stations and roads that resembled corrugate iron. Python snakes were ‘like pets’! The locals picking them up to show the visitors and it was not unusual to see them hanging from the rafters! Next journey was a two day drive to Broome where once again Bronti found hospitality work and a stint in real estate!! Her travels continued along the west coast then across the Nullabor. ALONE!!!! Well not quite as Bronti said music was her companion. The costliest fuel was in the Pilbara where diesel was $2.00 a litre. She was incredibly fortunate with her car, a Toyota RAV4, having zilch issues throughout the entire trip. WABI SABI, Japanese for ‘the art of seeing beauty in the imperfection of nature’ is Bronti’s new ink epitomizing her positive attitude in life. May your intrepid expeditions, and your bravery never cease Bronti! Noor Petersen
Fixing leaks - WaterAssist Home
Most leaks are easily fixed and even a small water leak of five litres per hour can add up quickly over time. If not detected and repaired, this can result in water losses of 840 litres per week or 43,680 litres per year and an extra $90 on your water bill annually. Barwon Water customers with high water usage, over 680 litres per day are eligible to join Barwon Water’s free WaterAssist Home program which includes a home water use assessment and a reliable, affordable plumbing service to repair or replace inefficient water fittings valued at $360. The program runs until 30 June 2022. For more information, visit https://www.barwonwater.vic
Susan Langridge
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Forrest & District Neighbourhood House - February 2022 The F&DNH will be open to the general public Opening hours may vary at this time so please phone or email first if you need to book a time for printing etc. Density requirements, vax status and mask wearing must all be adhered to when visiting the F&DNH..
REGULAR ACTIVITIES AT THE F&DNH PENDING COVID RESTRICTIONS.
CRAFT CIRCLE: Mondays from11am-1pm. BYO craft projects and a snack. Cost: Gold coin. FOOD SHARE PANTRY: Pantry is topped up each Wednesday and Friday evenings from ALDI collection. Available to all TOP UP’ BOXES (fruit, veg and bread) will be available for collection each Tuesday with arrangement through the coordinator. Please get in touch to receive a box. WEEDING GROUP: 2nd Wednesday of the month 10am-12pm. Contact for more info.
COMING UP COMEDY FOR A CAUSE: Saturday 12th March @ Forrest Hall. Door open 7pm, show starts at 8pm. Tickets $20-$25 available at http://comedyforacause. net/FORREST. Tickets must be pre purchased, not available on the door.
SINGING FOR FUN: Wednesdays 11am-12pm STUDIO FORREST ART GROUP: Wednesdays 1-5pm. Contact for more info. BOOK CLUB: First Wednsday of the month @ 7.30pm COMMUNITY LUNCH: Take away. Order the day before, pick up at 12.30 on Thursday. $5. YOGA: Online for now. Please see Otways Forrest Yoga on FB for more info.
WE HAVE: Free WiFi • Printing services • Room hire • Community spaces • Reading room • Food share • Forrest & District Historical Society display and library • Recycle drop point (during open hours only) for soft plastics, bread tags, Clothes swap and small household batteries.
LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER, SHARE THE CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND STAY SAFE. Don’t forget to ‘like’ our Facebook page for up to date info and events! facebook.com/forrest.neighbourhoodhouse OPERATING: Tues, Wed, Thurs 8.30am-3.30pm, Thurs AT THE HALL for lunch, FRI 8.30am-12pm. Please contact the coordinator Renee if you have any queries, program requests or would like to run a program T: 5236 6597 0493105502 E: forrest.nh@gmail.com A: Community Hub - 47 Grant Street, Forrest 3236
Did you know?
* You can recycle soft plastics at Woolworth & Coles Supermarkets in Colac There are 2 containers located opposite the checkouts in both stores. * Our friendly Neighbourhood House is a collection point for soft plastics, old mobile phones, batteries, pens and bread tags. The bread tags which are collected are melted down to make beautiful bowls which are sold and the money collected is used to buy wheelchairs. * You can also drop off batteries, mobile phones, sharps, CDs and printing cartridges at Colac Otway Shire Council offices. * Unwanted computers are upcycled by PCs for Kids in Geelong. The refurbished computers are then sold to the public at a minimum cost and are not just for kids! Marita Kennedy
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East Barwon Willow Removal Barwon Water is removing willows on a section the East Barwon river to improve water transfer from the West Barwon Reservoir to the Wurdee Boluc Reservoir, and river health. In December last year, Forrestbased civil earthmoving contractors Deja Eight began preparing the site to remove the invasive willow trees that choke a 3km stretch of the East Barwon River, restricting flow and causing increased flooding, upstream of the Wurdee Boluc channel. After a Cultural Heritage Induction and the approval by Eastern Maar Traditional Owners Corporation in November, the site preparation work, including chemical treatment of the willow trees through stem injection, was completed prior to the Christmas break. Work to remove the willows began on January 4 starting on the southwest side of the river. Barwon Water has been working closely with Deja Eight, subcontractors Organic Matter Solutions and DELWP in preparation to safely manage the processing of the willow waste on the river flats in self-contained air burner units. The area has been assessed by Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) team and will be included as a planned burn within the 2021/22 Joint Fire Management Program. Starting in early February, it is expected to take one week to process the willow waste, operating the air burner units over a 24-hour cycle. Further details on the air burner operation will be provided to the community via FFMVic planned burn notifications: https:// plannedburns.ffm.vic.. Meanwhile, a contract for the revegetation program was awarded to local contractor Tree Management Services. Propagation of seedlings has started in preparation for planting next spring. The establishment of riparian vegetation is needed to stabilise the reach, reduce stream velocities and silting, and provide a buffer to pathogens and nutrients entering the waterway. It is also important to shade the river with trees, limiting the spread of the weed Glyceria and providing continuous habitat for fish and other aquatic fauna. Three research projects associated with the works are also being undertaken by Deakin University focusing on riparian buffers within the Upper Barwon catchment. They include: * a PhD project focusing on the effects of willow removal and riparian restoration on water quality, microclimate, and morphology (this project is being sponsored by Barwon Water, Deakin and Water Research Australia) * a masters project to develop a tool for calculating the costs and benefits of riparian buffers for stakeholders, and * an honours project investigating leaf decomposition rates and processes between streams. Completion of the willow removal works are expected by April 30. Barwon Water has been appointed Committee of Management for this section of the river and will be responsible for the long term management of the riparian vegetation. Hamish brooks (Barwon Water media release)
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Sit among the trees and spoil yourself a little • Artisan chocolate made onsite from natural ingredients • Amazing hot chocolate with a touch of theatre • Decadent desserts • Beautiful locally roasted coffee
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR FOR FEBRUARY
The Irish Hour Pub Group Inc. Rumour has it!!
It is said that turkeys can reproduce without having sex – it is also said that we have a few in the Forrest area PLEASE GIVE US A RING BEFORE COMING TO GET PRESCRIPTIONS
73 Grant Street, Forrest www.platypichocolate.com.au
MATHEW SILVEY PLUMBING
• New homes & renovations • Hot & cold water services • Spouting & downpipes • Stormwater
• Motorised drain cleaning • 1.5t excavator hire • Solar hot water installation • Roofing
Mobile: 0417 342 531 Licence No. 47995
ADVERTISE WITH US... Reach local customers and visitors and support your local volunteer run news sheet. Proceeds go to the Forrest Primary School or Neighbourhood House for printing costs.
CONTACT US: theforrestpost@gmail.com for rates or more information
Monday - Friday 40 Main Street 9:00am - 5:30pm Birregurra, VIC 3242 Saturday Ph: (03) 5236 2288 9:00am - 12:00pm Fax: (03) 5236 2280 Email: birrepharmacy@hotmail.com
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Forrest General Congratulations to Ash and Em for the new look 'General'. A crisp, clear and bright welcoming attraction for the town. The extended outdoor seating area with wine barrel tables is inviting and there are always some little shady spots to enjoy your coffee, icy drinks and yummy home baked specialties during these hot summer days. We look forward to your planned innovations and appreciate all the friendly and efficient staff.
Sporting News
Locals and friends were treated to a fabulous game of cricket at Forrest Rec Reserve on Saturday the 22nd, the first game for 2022. The results were not what was hoped for with Forrest scoring 111, losing to Birregurra's 149. Sir Donald Bradman said, "Every ball went exactly where I wanted it to go until the ball that got me out". Maybe the Forrest team's balls didn't exactly go where they wanted them while batting or while bowling. There is always the next match guys! Forrest reserve is a wonderful sporting hub for families and individuals alike. Keep a lookout for the official opening of the community gym in the near future. On Cricket days, the Bar is open with cold drinks for kids and adults and plenty of shade under the pavilion. Marita kennedy
School Garden Watering Over Summer The Forrest Weeding group volunteers have kept up the watering of the school garden during the Summer Holidays. The children and their families will return to find fresh strawberry treasures, rhubarb and herbs. Thanks to the gardening group and the parent volunteers who collected eggs and fed the chookies. 'To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow' Audrey Hepburn Marita Kennedy
Visit Forrest online at www.forrestvictoria.com
Noor Petersen